issue 0.1

the chordinnation is a newsletter devoted to:

1. exploring the relationship between music and sport and;

2. highlighting creative approaches to practice

The fields of sport performance and mental performance are often dominated by language around “effectiveness” and “efficiency.” But movement is also a creative act. Meaning matters. Music - among the most reliable forms of performance enhancement in existence - has perhaps been overlooked as a tool to bridge meaning and movement within organized athletics. In my work with athletes, music has been a theme that has surfaced time and time again. As I write this, multiple examples immediately come to mind:

• An NBA point-guard who detailed how playing the drums helped him identify how he could control the game’s tempo

• An NBA coach who used a live DJ to move the needle on the energy in practice

• A junior athlete who spoke about listening to a particular Amy Winehouse song as part of his pre-game routine because his father used to play it

• An NBA mental performance coach who plays background music during sessions with athletes

• A seasoned international pro who discovered while playing in Asia that a certain genre of local music proved to put him in an ideal pre-competition state

And while examples are powerful, even a brief dive into the related literature reveals a wealth of evidence for the effect of music on sport performance. This combination of evidence and athlete experience highlights the opportunity to explore how music can be applied to athlete performance. It also opens up a door for exploring more creative approaches to sport in general. This Substack enters the conversation with music and sport but will go wherever that wave takes us on occasion!

For a slightly longer explanation of the value of this exploration, watch the video at the bottom of this page.

My goal is to provide both community and support for athletes and coaches. I don’t want cost to prevent anyone from accessing the information or being able to engage with others. Given that, there are no paid subscriptions. If you want to work with me beyond the newsletter, reach out. Otherwise, enjoy the chordinnation for free!

My goal is to provide both community and support for athletes and coaches. I don’t want cost to prevent anyone from accessing the information or being able to engage with others. Given that, there are no paid subscriptions. Those who want to explore specific ways to use music in sport or take creative approaches to practice planning can reach out directly. I price my consulting services with a cost + time approach that acknowledges individual circumstances. I can’t completely eliminate costs on larger projects, but do my best to make support accessible to as many individuals and groups as possible. If you want to work with me beyond the newsletter, reach out. Otherwise, enjoy the chordinnation for free!

At my core, I am a motor learning and performance guy. I am fascinated by anything that helps individuals or groups move more purposefully, find meaning in that movement, and enhance their enjoyment of the experience. This Substack is a place to look beyond extractive approaches to performance that reduce athletes to data and performance to efficiency. Sport is an absurd task. It has no meaning other than that which we assign it. Music and other creative approaches to practice allow us to explore meaning with athletes rather than arbitrarily assigning it for them. If that sounds like something you also want to explore, this newsletter is for you.